Shoppers hit stores, dealerships for Presidents Day

Photo by Michael S. Gordon / The Republican William H. Caruana, left, and Sehrrill J. Caurana of Wilbraham shop for a car at Lia Toyota on Boston Road today with Adam B. Kulas, general sales manager of Lia Toyota.

SPRINGFIELD - Carrying a bag containing a DVD player and a pink coat Wilma Z. Vargas and her daughter Taliah Wilson, 6, of Springfield, walked around the Eastfield Mall today looking for Presidents Day sales.

"Some stores had good deals," Vargas said pointing to the J. C. Penny Outlet bag in her hand.

Vargas was also driven to shop by a proposed federal economic stimulus package that would pay stipends of $300 to $1,200 per household, and more for families with children later this year.

"I definitely took it into account that we would be getting a little back this year," Vargas said.

At Lia Toyota in Wilbraham sales associate Joe Z. Yusuf, said that tax return season is well underway for the dealership.

"This time of year we are always really busy. We have a lot of great deals on pre-owned Toyotas and people like to use the money they get back to put a considerable down payments on their cars," he said.

Sherrill J. Caruana and her husband William H. Caruana, both of Wilbraham, stopped by the dealership to look at a Toyota Camry hybrid.

"We saw the (Presidents day) sale in the commercials and decided to come in," she said.

Mickey C. Grabner, the regional director of sales for Raymour & Flanigan Furniture stores said tax returns are a big motivator for customers.

"We have zero-financing until 2012, which draws a lot of people. But this weekend we had a phenomenal turnout at all of our 95 stores," Grabner said. "People have already gotten their taxes or will be getting them soon and they come in to get some bigger ticket items like living and dinging room sets."

Allyson Burns, 10 and her mom Jeannine Pavlak, both of East Longmeadow, were cleaning out their house when they realized they needed some new couches.

"It's time for a change," Pavlak said. " We're torn between three different sets right now. They have some great deals."

Back at Eastfield Mall, many shoppers came to the mall for the sales, but also for the sandbox. The mall set up a giant sandbox decorated with sand pails and beach balls for children to stop and play.

"It's Presidents Day but it's also the beginning of the vacation week for most students," explained Celia Hickson, of Wilbraham, who brought her three daughters to the mall to do some shopping and also to play in the sand.

"We come every year," Hickson said as she pulled her youngest daughter Mia R. Hickson, 1, out of the sand.

The Hickson's mall excursion included shopping for the girls.

"Old Navy had a huge sale on kids clothes, so we did some shopping there," Hickson said.

Jennifer Chapin, of Wilbraham, and Kimberly Ghareeb, of Easthampton made a stop at K. B. Toys after visiting the sandbox with Ghareeb's children Jack, 4 and Chelsey, 3.

"We saw this and we couldn't resist," Ghareeb said pointing to a Disney princess carriage. "The sandbox was a good excuse to come out with the kids get out of the house and do a little shopping."